My Catholic Uniform

We’d often run errands on the way home from school when I was a little girl. That meant we’d be spending the afternoon in red plaid jumpers. And if we got into mischief while our mother was shopping, she’d pull us aside and sternly remind us that we were wearing our uniforms and had to behave. She’d tell us that everyone who saw us could see that we were Catholic and that we were representatives of our school and our faith. That people would form opinions about all Catholic children based on our behavior.

You know how you grow up and have kids and hear your mother’s words come out of your own mouth? Sometimes that’s not a good thing, but I don’t regret repeating the same warning to my children when we were out in public and they were in uniform. In heavily Protestant East Tennessee, where Catholics number only two percent of the population and prejudice and misunderstandings still exist, the way visibly Catholic people behave in public makes an impression.

You know where else it makes an impression? On social media. I don’t wear a red plaid jumper any more, but I have made myself very visibly Catholic on Facebook and elsewhere. Not just because people who know me in real life know that I am Catholic, but because I often write on Catholic topics and (try to) explain Catholic doctrine.

On Friday thousands of Catholics marched for life. They boldly and publicly proclaimed the counter-cultural truth that unborn life is sacred and deserves legal protection. They were cheered on by supportive Facebook posts from other Catholics who could not attend.

The following day many of those same Catholics expressed support for the Executive Order signed by the President which will result in great human suffering by preventing refugees and migrants from entering this country: men, women, children, and yes, the unborn, all our brothers and made in God’s image. All part of one human family.

From the Catechism, 2241: “The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.”

Pope Francis has said: “It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help . . . If I say I am Christian, but do these things, I’m a hypocrite.”

The USCCB just released a statement which reads in part: “We strongly disagree with the Executive Order’s halting refugee admissions. We believe that now more than ever, welcoming newcomers and refugees is an act of love and hope.”

Matthew 25:35 is just one of many Bible verses that speak to our Christian duty to refugees and migrants: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

I am a bad Catholic. I am as sinful as anyone. But I try to be an obedient Catholic, and I welcome and accept the guidance of the Church in all matters. As I try hard to avoid scandal by never publicly proclaiming dissent from anything the Church holds to be true, I will also not remain silent in the face of this offense against our vulnerable brothers and sisters. I will not let my actions confirm the unfortunate impression many people have formed that Catholics must be Republicans or Conservatives, or are only pro-life when it comes to the unborn.

I reject this Executive Order. I welcome the stranger. Not because I am a Liberal or a Democrat. Because I am a Catholic, and I am in uniform.

I think the thing I am struggling with is the false concept that “To be Catholic, you must be liberal.” What I have learned over the past few years, after returning to the Faith, is that I am neither conservative nor liberal. I am Catholic. My identity is so wrapped up in my faith, I can’t claim a political party anymore! My faith transcends my politics.

I told my non-Catholic husband I was disappointed when I watched the administration speak at the March for Life – I felt them to be hypocritical by saying, “We stand for life,” when they were closing the doors to immigrants and refugees. But, I have also found – nobody wants to listen right now (going back to your other post). So, I am not attempting any sort of post which touches on that.

But, thank you for wading into these waters of trying to be a voice of reason!

“To the extent they are able” is a key phrase in that excerpt. I am sure you can agree we aren’t able to have every human in the world who has a lower standard of living than we do just come live in America without destroying our country. It isn’t black and white, let them in or don’t let them in. The order just moved the gray line back a little temporarily. Personally, I don’t think it will really have a huge impact on our security one way or the other, and don’t think it was probably necessary, however, the backlash over it is just bizarre to me! If we are going to protest something, let’s protest how much we have intervened in these countries politics over the last few decades and bombed people. If we had left Syria alone, there wouldn’t be refugees in the first place.
I have always given money to food for the poor, Catholic charities, and my kids put food in the food pantry basket every week, but lately we have been unable to afford that. I am trying to keep our standard of living as close to normal as possible to not freak out my kids, so charity is one thing I have cut out. Am I not a Christian anymore now? Of course I am. Unless you are advocating that we should all live with only the basic necessities, of food clothes, and a small basic house and give all the rest away to the needy, a case can certainly be made that our country is unable to take in everybody that wants to come without hurting the stability of our nation.

Everyone in town knows which kids go to the Catholic school and which don’t so my kids have that added pressure all the time even when not in uniform. What I find odd though, is that I frequently get comments about how well-behaved they are when they are in uniforms and less so when they aren’t.

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“The Holy Father said that he wanted to congratulate me for the words I am saying. He also called Archbishop (Jose H.) Gomez (of Los Angeles),” Bishop Seitz said, recalling the phone call. “I told him I felt it was very important at this time to show our solidarity to those who are suffering. I told him I had just come from Mass at which I was praying for him and I always do. He thanked me and said that whenever we celebrate Mass, we are praying together, he where he is and me at the border. I told him that I am very honored to serve here.”

The phone calls to prelates in the U.S. shows “that the Holy Father is aware of what’s happening in this country and is anxious for the church to be responsive in a pastoral way to participate in the response, in solidarity with those who have experienced racial discrimination,” he said. ...

It's called "taking a knee," and many professional athletes around the country have made the gesture publicly to protest police brutality. Lately, even police officers showing solidarity have kneeled around the country before those protesting the May 25 killing of George Floyd, who died after being....

"I understand that many people, for various reasons, cannot participate in rallies, and there are rallies that are very different from this one. But if you are Catholic and if you can speak out, you should, somehow or other. You should let the world know, in a way that makes sense for your station in life, that Catholics reject and revile racism." ...

Wake me up Lord, so that the evil of racismfinds no home within me.Keep watch over my heart Lord,and remove from me any barriers to your grace,that may oppress and offend my brothers and sisters.Fill my spirit Lord, so that I may giveservices of justice and peace.Clear my mind Lord, and use it for your glory.And finally, remind us Lord that you said,"blessed are the peacemakers,for they shall be called children of God."Amen.

What are your gifts and how can you bring them to bear--TODAY--on the problems facing our country? Are you a writer? A speaker? Do you have the gift of intercessory prayer or hospitality? Do you have the ability to give sacrificially?

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." I Corinthians 12: 4-7

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!" Luke 12:48-49 ...

"God of justice, give us the courage to admit our sins and failings. Give us the freedom to seek your mercy and reconciliation with our brothers and sisters. And give us the strength to continue crying out to you for the healing of our nation until it fulfills its commitment to recognize that you have created all people equal." ...